TEN times more people in Swindon are having therapy after being diagnosed with depression and stress than the national average rate, new figures show.

Data published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre this month shows more than 1,500 people with depression in the town entered treatment over the last three months.

Of 25,700 people in Swindon suffering from depression, it is estimated a quarter are currently receiving treatment under the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme.

Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group claims the high number of referrals for treatment is thanks to the work of LIFT Psychology team, which offers support through GPs for people with emotional difficulties.

A spokesman for the group said: “Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group is pleased the IAPT results demonstrate the outstanding achievements of the LIFT psychology team, commissioned to deliver this service in Swindon.

“Improving mental health and wellbeing for the population of Swindon and Shrivenham is one of the key objectives of Swindon CCG.

“One of the reasons this service is different is that it runs an open access opt-in service, which is available to anyone, and has at least one therapist based in each GP practice. Patients do not need to be referred to use this service, but instead patients are given information about LIFT Psychology, and are able to choose to make their own appointments, which they can book directly through their practice. If they prefer, patients can book on to a psych-education course through the LIFT Psychology website.

“The service aims to see patients within two weeks and they can rebook at any time.”

IAPT aims to put 2.6 million sufferers of depression into treatment by 2015, 50 per cent of whom would move toward recovery.

Nationwide, 259,016 people were referred for psychological therapies under the programme over the last three months, of whom 154,722 entered treatment.